Allen's emails ‘flirtatious'

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WASHINGTON The sex scandal that felled CIA Director David Petraeus widened Tuesday to ensnare the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, in a suddenly public drama involving a Tampa socialite, a jealous rival, a twin sister in a messy custody dispute and flirty emails.

The improbable story – by turns tragic and silly – could have major consequences, unfolding at a critical time in the Afghanistan war effort and just as President Barack Obama was hoping for a smooth transition in his national security team.

Obama put a hold on the nomination of Afghanistan war chief Allen to become the next commander of U.S. European Command as well as the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe after investigators uncovered 20,000-plus pages of documents and emails that involved Allen and Tampa socialite Jill Kelley. Some of the material was characterized as “flirtatious.”

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has recommended to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that he keep Allen in his post as commander in Afghanistan, Dempsey's spokesman, Col. David Lapan, said Tuesday.

Dempsey called Allen from Australia, where he was to attend meetings with Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and their Australian counterparts. Allen told Dempsey that he had not committed any wrongdoing, Lapan said

Kelley, 37, triggered the FBI investigation that led to Petraeus' downfall as CIA director when she complained about getting anonymous, harassing emails. They turned out to have been written by Petraeus' mistress, Paula Broadwell, who apparently was jealous of the attention the general paid to Kelley. Petraeus acknowledged the affair with Broadwell and resigned Friday.

In the course of looking into that situation, federal investigators came across what a Pentagon official called “inappropriate communications” between Allen and Kelley, both of them married.

According to one senior U.S. official, the emails between Allen and Kelley were not sexually explicit or seductive but included pet names such as “sweetheart” or “dear.” The official said that while much of the communication – including some from Allen to Kelley – is relatively innocuous, some could be construed as unprofessional.

That official, and others who described the investigation, requested anonymity on grounds that they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

The FBI decided to turn over the Allen information to the military once the bureau recognized it contained no evidence of a federal crime, said a federal law enforcement official who demanded anonymity. Adultery, however, is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Allen was not suspended from his military position, even though his nomination for promotion is on hold. The White House will soon decide how many troops will remain in Afghanistan after the U.S.-led combat operation ends in 2014. Allen has provided his recommendations to the White House and is key to those discussions.

White House spokesman Jay Carney, who was asked about the revelations involving Allen at a news briefing Tuesday, responded that “The president thinks very highly of Gen. Allen. He has faith in Gen. Allen.”

The unfolding story caused a commotion on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers complained they should have been told about the investigation earlier.

Acting CIA Director Michael Morell met with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia on Tuesday, to explain the CIA's understanding of events that led Petraeus to resign. That session came ahead of meetings today with the leaders of the House Intelligence Committee, according to congressional aides.

The chairman and top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee said their panel would go ahead with Thursday's scheduled confirmation hearing on the nomination of Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, who is to replace Allen as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, if Allen is indeed promoted.

Even though Petraeus has stepped down, Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the retired general should testify about the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, “if he has relevant information.” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said it was “absolutely imperative” that Petraeus testify, since he was CIA director during the attack and visited Libya afterward.

Asked by reporters if there was a national security breach with the Petraeus affair, Feinstein said: “We're going to hold an inquiry. We're going to look at things. I have no evidence that there was at this time.” She said she expected Petraeus to testify – “if not this week, then another week. That's for sure.”

Feinstein said did not believe that either Allen or Petraeus would release classified information.

The FBI looked into whether a separate set of emails between Petraeus and Broadwell might involve any security breach and concluded it did not.

The FBI searched Broadwell's home in Charlotte, N.C., Monday night, with her consent, according to a federal law enforcement official who requested anonymity.

The official said the FBI just wanted to make sure there were no classified documents out of government custody.

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